The Helios Biblios Hour : Women Warriors Past Present & Future

Ahhotep I (16th century BCE): Egyptian queen who rallied troops against invaders, was merciful, got Order of the Fly. Ahhotep was a very dynamic and brave woman. It is believed that the warrior-queen Ahhotep herself rallied the troops to fight against Hyksos. Tomyris (5th century BCE): Massagetae queen who beheaded Cyrus the Great. Her kingdom was located in the area to the east of the Caspian sea modern –day Turkmenistan ,Afghanistan ,Kazakhstan.

Dihya al-Kahina (7th century CE): Queen of the Imazighen, united them to fight against Muslim invaders. he was told that the single most powerful ruler of North Africa was the queen of the beer era, Al-Kahina. She delivered a crushing defeat to the Arabs, forcing them to retreat their broken army to Libya, where they hid and regrouped for five years. Knowing that the Arabs would return, in greater numbers, she took the fatal decision of embarking on a scorched earth campaign.

Kawlah bint al-Azwar al-Kind’yya (7th century CE): Black knight who led army of women for Muhammad. Her name remained greatly unknown, until the battle of Ajnadin, not far from Jerusalem, where Drear lost his spear, fell from his horse, and was taken prisoner. She donned a male knight's attire, took her arms and rode her mare through the Roman ranks, using her sword skillfully against whoever tried to stop her. The Muslim soldiers, and their leader Khalid, watched her with great admiration, presuming that she was a man. Gudit (10th century CE): Semi-legendary queen who laid waste to Axum, Beta Israeli (Ethiopian). Yodit meaning beautiful in Geez was an Ethiopian Queen of 10th century AD (about 970). Yodit some call her Judith is known for her destruction of the Axumite Empire bringing to an end the domination for over 700 years by Alexandrian Alliance on the affairs of Ethiopians. She also known as with a negative name Gudit meaning nothing having figurative connotation.